It’s one thing to maintain a great food blog, but writing cookbooks, hosting a radio and television food, and writing a nutrition column while maintaining a great food blog is another feat altogether. We talked to Julie from Dinner With Julie, and asked her how she does just that.

You're a food author, stylist, journalist, tv personality and blogger - what started the passion for food that has obviously influenced your career?

Really, I've just always loved to eat. I figured out early on that if I could learn how to make cookies and cupcakes by myself, I'd have an inexhaustible supply. My parents were impressed, and I was allowed to bake whenever I liked. Also - I've just always had a thing for recipes. My mom likes to tell the story of 3 year old me asking when I can cook by myself. She said when I could read a recipe by myself, I could cook by myself. So I went off and came back soon after to ask what a "tbsp" was. What's a tbsp of sugar? So I learned to read using cookbooks, and learned math -fractions, mostly- with measuring cups and spoons. And in grade 3 I told my class I wanted to be the food editor of Canadian Living magazine when I grew up. I even tried to dye my hair white and cut bangs to look like Elizabeth Baird. I guess it has always been my thing.

Who taught you to cook?

No one person in particular - I learned some things from my mom, of course, and my Grandma - I remember watching her mix, roll and trim pastry with her capable gnarled hands. She taught me to keep it cold and not handle it too much. Then I learned by reading cookbooks and magazines - but mostly just by doing it. Like anything else, the more you do the better you get. People are afraid to waste the time and ingredients it may take to experiment, but that's how you learn! Kids get that, but adults forget. They tend to want to do it right, not play around.

What is the most important thing home cooks should know?

Like Julia Child said - never apologize! (Say in a high-pitched French accent.) They should know that even the best chefs screw up - that just because you burn something or something turns out terribly doesn't mean you can't cook. I know a lot of really great chefs and food writers and everyone flops more than you know! everything is so perfect on TV, but that's not real life. Real life is far messier. They should know not to put too much pressure on themselves to perform in the kitchen. Life's too short. They should know not to worry about what people think and invite them over anyway. That most convenience foods are not all that convenient, and taking a bit of time to make something from scratch is well worth the effort. They should know how good beans (legumes) are for them and to cook with them more often (soaking dried beans really isn't that big a deal). They should also know that potlucks are making a comeback, which makes entertaining a lot easier (and less scary) for a lot of people.

How do you start creating a new recipe?

It depends on what it is. Sometimes I just turn something I've been making for ages into something new - like adding chunked peaches and vanilla to scones to make vanilla-peach scones. No biggie. If it's something specific I want to make that I've never made before, I usually read through cookbooks and look online to see what the basic ingredients are and how other people approach it. And often I'll just be winging it in the kitchen, and have to run and write it down while it's fresh in my mind.. I always have scraps of paper and notes all over the house!

What is the most delicious thing you've ever eaten?

I just figured out how to make crumpets from scratch, and just ate one warm with butter and a neighbour's fresh raspberry jam... and another drizzled with Lyle's Golden Syrup. They were pretty fine. I've had a lot of really great food, and thought to myself hundreds (thousands?) of times that this is the best thing I ever ate. But you can't compare a warm summer cobbler with sour cream ice cream to a pizza in Italy or roast chicken at a friend's house after a long walk home in the rain. I don't think I could choose one thing that sticks out in my mind above all others. Although I do remember when I was about 16 and dieting for a couple days finding a bag of M&Ms in the car that were warm from the sun. I hadn't eaten sugar for two days and I still remember how good they tasted. It was then that I understood the saying bon appetit - that having a good appetite elevates any food to new heights! Every month, we feature a new Canadian food blogger that we like to read. If you have any suggestions for bloggers you’d like to see interviewed here, leave them in the comments.